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Business

As snow quietly fell from a cloudy sky, skiers and ‘boarders not so quietly slipped down the mountainside, enjoying their Saturday afternoon at Echo Mountain Ski Resort.

The ski area, which is located along Squaw Pass Road, opened last week for the first time after changing ownership in October 2016.

General manager Fred Klaas, who is in his first year at Echo Mountain, said renovations are ongoing, to some degree. The resort still is working to complete its kitchen and bar set-up, and also is preparing for training sessions and lessons, he said.

IgadI Ltd., which owns marijuana businesses in Tabernash and Central City, bought the business at 2918 Colorado Blvd. from Theran Snyder.

The Idaho Springs city council unanimously approved the sale on Nov. 14. Because of restrictions in the city regarding marijuana businesses and the need for associated permits, the sale needed council approval.

Council member Jason Siegel, who is the Kine Mine’s general manager, recused himself from the discussion and vote.

Mountain Medicinals marijuana dispensary has received approval from the Idaho Springs city council to move its retail growing operation to its new location at 2313 Colorado Blvd.

The council approved the move unanimously during its Oct. 24 meeting.

Last year the dispensary received permission to move the bulk of its operation from 1800 Colorado Blvd. to the former RE/MAX Mountain Realty building next to Safeway despite public concerns about potential odor.

Echo Mountain Resort is gearing up for its first ski season under the ownership of SkiEcho LLC.

The resort on Squaw Pass Road between Idaho Springs and Evergreen is expected to open in mid-December. The resort will honor existing passes; however, final lift-ticket prices are still being determined.

There are many ways of saying that Georgetown’s newest restaurant, Cooper’s on the Creek, is ready to dish out an unforgettable culinary experience.

“We wanted to make a restaurant where people could get a really good meal — but still come in jeans and still come off the mountain if they’ve been … hiking or if they’ve been skiing,” said Amanda Cooper, the restaurant’s owner and general manager.

With Labor Day receding in the rearview mirror, Idaho Springs merchants are reporting an unusually busy summer.

Merchants and officials largely attribute the boost in sales to a noticeable reduction in construction on Interstate 70, while others suggest better advertising and the hot weather in the metro area, combined with the county’s recreational opportunities, induced tourists to make a westward migration to cooler climates.

Longtime Idaho Springs public servant Phyllis Adams has been hired as executive director of the Idaho Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Adams, who served as a city council member and city administrator, was appointed earlier this month and is the first chamber director since 2012. She hopes to rejuvenate the organization and help the chamber board refocus its goals for the city.

“I had the time and the knowledge and hopefully the skills that will help them,” Adams said.